Black Bean and Bacon Dip
(Frijoles Molidos — Puerto Rico)

Yield: 6 to 8 servings as an hors d'oeuvre or side dish

Ingredients

• 10 ounces dried black beans
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely minced yellow onion
• 3 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 3 tablespoons finely minced fresh cilantro
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 5 bacon strips, fried and crumbled

Instructions

1. Remove any pebbles and debris from beans; rinse under cold running water, and soak overnight.
2. Pour soaked black beans into a colander and rinse under cold running water. Put beans in a medium pot with enough water to cover, then bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer the black beans for 1 1/2 hours, or until they are tender, adding more water, if necessary, to keep them covered. Drain beans, then puree them with 1 cup fresh water in a food processor fitted with the metal blade or an electric blender until smooth.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the minced onions and garlic until the onions are limp, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low and add pureed black beans, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce and salt. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so that the beans do not stick to the skillet. If the beans bubble too vigorously, reduce heat to low. Remove beans from the heat and let them rest for 15 minutes so that they set. At this point you can also cool the beans and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
4. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the cilantro, then spoon the black beans into a medium serving bowl. Top with dollops of sour cream, and then the crumbled bacon and the remaining tablespoon of cilantro.